Language Arts for 6-1/LaBarbera /Feb. 23-March 2, 2010

Language Arts for 6-1/LaBarbera/February 23-March 2, 2010

1. Today, Feb. 22---Five note cards are due for the research paper. Last Friday students began highlighting main ideas. This week the note cards are completed.
Directions: On every note card there may be 10 words or less. There are no complete sentences on a note card. Words and phrases are written from the highlighted notes students gathered on their research. Put a number 1 in a circle on every note card that relates to Source 1 . Put a number 2 in a circle on every note card that relates to Source 2, and so on.
Organize your note cards . In class we will have instruction about outlining and paraphrasing. The goal is to answer 5 research questions in your own words as a result of your research. The paper is expository. It is not a narrative. It is not a persuasive piece.
Addendum added 2/23/10: To create an outline. ...
Go to http://www.mywebspiration.com/
Sign up . Use Rapid Fire ( lightning bolt icon) to add your categories to your topic circle.
Use Rapid Fire to add the details on your notecards to each category "bubble."
Click on the far left icon to turn your diagram into an outline.
The work automatically saves as you work on it.
" An outline is NOT your research paper. You should be writing in phrases to keep it brief.
Your outline should not include every minor detail.
Each line of an outline should begin with a capital letter." Outlines need to be in pairs: If you have a one, you need a two. If you have an A, you need a B.

2. The ISAT testing takes place March 2-3-4-5. During that week, no new homework is assigned. The students need a good night's sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a positive attitude toward the testing week.

3. Upon completion of ISAT testing.. ( During the week of March 8-12, students will resume organizing information, prepare an outline, and begin writing the draft of the research paper in their spiral notebooks. The written draft of the research paper should be completed by March 15.
The final typed drafts will be accepted March 18-22. I will grade them before Spring break ( March 29-April 2.).


A sample of an outline:

General Outline Form:

Topic:
I. Category #1
A. Note from Category #1
B, Note from Category #2
1. Detail of Note B
2. Detail of Note B
a. Detail of the #2 Detail
b, Detail of the #2 Detail
II. Category #2
A. Note from Category #2
1. Detail from Note A
2. Detail from Note A
B. Note from Category #2.

Example:
Red Wolf
I. Appearance
A. Coat
1. Gray
2. Black
3. Brown
4. Yellow
5. Cinnamon Red-Texas
B. Size
1. Males---60-80 lbs.
2. Females --40-60 lbs.
II . Habitat.
A. Reach of habitat
1. Far north as Pennsylvania
2. Far west as central Texas
B. Marsh areas and swamps
C. Forests
D. Coastal prairies

4. After ISATs........We will resume our work with the pilot Literature Text and the Language Network text. There is a poetry and short story unit to complete. A benchmarks test will be administered in late April or early May.